“Harry is a top class player and of course this has attracted interest, with two bids coming in," said the Northern Irishman after Saturday's friendly win over Stoke.

“But they are nowhere near to meeting the valuation of the club. Harry is relaxed about it, we are, he’s been absolutely brilliant.

“I really have to add, because I have been in this situation a number of times where it can be very, very difficult for players.

Maguire's future is still up in the air (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

“But he is a special guy. You see him on the pitch, but off the pitch he’s been very professional. The supporters need to know how he has been.

“He’s never once sulked, he has just gone with it, he’s integrated into the group, he’s smiled, he’s taken part in everything we have wanted to do and he was sick yesterday and we had a number of players that were sick yesterday after we came back from our trip.

“And in these circumstances it can be very easy for him not to play, but he wanted to be with the squad. He came here to play and you can see the quality he has in that 45 minutes.”